'Choked and unable to breath': Abuse survivor 'crawled on hands and knees' away from perpetrator

'CHOKED AND UNABLE TO BREATH': ABUSE SURVIVOR 'CRAWLED ON HANDS AND KNEES' AWAY FROM PERPETRATOR

Barry Maguire from Omagh was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court on 23rd October 2025 to five years for domestic abuse offences, including five counts of non-fatal strangulation.

The 41-year-old will serve half of the sentence in custody and the remainder on license.

Ms Giza was found outside by two neighbours, crawling on her hands and knees away from her perpetrator after being assaulted.

It was later established that there were bruises all over her body in various stages of healing after sustained violence for several weeks.

This included repeated and sustained incidents of non-fatal strangulation in which Iwona was pinned to the ground.

She could not breathe as Maguire held his hand over her mouth and nose.

He also subjected her to "controlling, cruel, and demoralising acts" including being filmed making her eat her food off the floor.

He would threaten, call her names, and spit at her during the incidents.

In 2024, the PSNI recorded 32,763 domestic abuse incidents and nearly 20,000 domestic abuse crimes, with an average of a report every 16 minutes and 84 arrests each month.